ESTABLISHING TOILETING

TIPS For Living Life

To Its Fullest ROUTINES FOR CHILDREN

TOILETING IS AN IMPORTANT SKILL FOR DAILY LIFE that has many social implications. In order for the child
to achieve this important milestone, children and families need to establish a clear toileting routine. This will ensure a
child has success in school and in social situations.

The following tips are from pediatric occupational therapy practitioners who have experience with educating parents on
establishing toileting routines.

If you want to: Consider these activity tips:

Identify signs when the
child is ready to begin
participating in a toileting
routine.
Children will often demonstrate signs when they are ready to be toilet trained. These signs include:
• Interest in the bathroom or in the toileting process, which includes wanting to visit the bath-
room, playing pretend toileting, touching toilet paper, or being curious about how the toilet
flushes
• Wanting to observe others using the bathroom
• Reporting to a caregiver when they have gone in a diaper and/or asking to wear underwear
• Starting to “hold” their urine or bowel movement and/or getting upset when a diaper is soiled
It is important that families begin toilet training when it works for them and the child, typically
between 18 months and 3 years of age. Toilet training is a family commitment, so all members
should collaborate for success.

Set up a successful
routine for potty time.
An important aspect of toileting is for children to learn their body and the cues it is giving them to
know when to go to the bathroom. But families should also encourage toileting routines, including
the following times during the day for bathroom visits:
• When waking up
• Before and after naptime
• Before and after a new play activity
• Before a meal
• Before bedtime
• Before leaving the house for an event
Consistently taking a child to the bathroom at established times helps identify a routine for the
family and child. If a child is showing signs of needing to go to the bathroom by wiggling or grab-
bing his or her clothes, families can ask if it’s time to visit the bathroom. But it is also important to
teach children to recognize their body signals and go on their own.

Part of successful toileting is to ensure children wear clothes that can be easily removed. This often
Increase independence in
means clothing with elastic waistbands. If a child has a difficult time grasping the waistband, fami-
toileting skills.
lies may attach a loop the child can pull on.
 If you want to: Consider these activity tips:

Provide a comfortable and
inviting environment.
The bathroom can be a scary place with lots of noises, sensations, and smells. Some strategies for
setting up a good toileting routine include making the space accessible and inviting, including:
• Placing items needed for toileting, such as toilet paper, within easy reach, and having a sturdy
stool nearby to help the child get onto the toilet.
• Allowing the child to do an activity while on the toilet, like reading a favorite book.
• Talking to the child about the bathroom and how the toilet works to avoid fear.
• Placing brightly colored towels and fun-smelling soaps at the sink to make handwashing fun.
• Addressing smells with air fresheners as appropriate.
• Adapting the toilet seat so the child feels secure. For example, consider using a potty chair,
potty ring, or foot rest.

Offer steps to help your
family learn a positive
routine.
Learning to toilet may take time, and it is important not to rush a child. Children may need to sit
for a bit to be successful. They may benefit from:
• Running the sink water to initiate pottying
• Singing a song or two to relax
• Looking at a book while on the toilet
If a child cannot remember all the steps in the process of toileting, a series of pictures of each step
posted by the toilet may help. Remember, children need to practice, and toileting has a lot of
steps! Bathrooms are also different, so a child may need additional time when in a new bathroom.

Some children may need assistance getting clean after toileting. They may need coaching on how
much toilet paper to use, and visual checks to ensure that they are clean. Handwashing is impor-
Help your child learn
tant, and children should be able to access the sink with a sturdy stool. Soap and towels should
proper hygiene.
be easy to reach. In order to protect children from water burns, families can label the faucets with
colors to indicate which is cold and which is hot.

Toileting accidents are a part of the learning process and to be expected. Children may be so
interested in something else that they forget about getting to the bathroom until it’s too late. A
child should never be punished for an accident. Instead, praise a child when successful and clean
up accidents calmly. If necessary, carry extra clothes so children won’t be embarrassed if they have
Encourage positive an accident. Consider plastic sheets on the bed as a temporary measure and reduce fluids before
behavior. bedtime. Children can also help clean up the mess, which may help them learn to avoid future
accidents.
Reward children for their responsibility and participation as they learn toileting skills by compli-
menting their “big boy” or “big girl” underpants, and by praising their successes in keeping their
bed and clothes dry.

Need More Information?

You can find additional information through the American Occupational Therapy Association at
www.aota.org/consumers.

Developed by Joy Doll, OTD, OTR/L, and Bonnie R. W. Riley, OTR/L, BCP, for the American Occupational Therapy
Association.

Occupational therapy is a skilled health, rehabilitation, and educational service that helps people across the lifespan participate in the things they
want and need to do through the therapeutic use of everyday activities (occupations).
Copyright © 2014 by the American Occupational Therapy Association. This material may be copied and distributed for personal or educational
uses without written consent. For all other uses, contact copyright@aota.org.